Illinois State University Top Questions

My advice to myself would be, to stay opened minded. When you are going to a new place and don't know many people it is scary, but it is also important to be open minded and willing to try new things. College is all about new experiences and it is important to be willing to experience the different things that may come your way. I would also tell myself to make sure to deticate time just for your school work, there is a lot more work in college to do than in high school. From personal experience with having a learning disability, I know the importance of asking for help when you need it. Many teachers are more than willing to help you and may even make accommidations for you, if you happen to have a disability or just in need of help with your school work, all you have to do is ask. Overall my advice, is to be willing to experience new things while entering a new stage in your life, it will be worth it in the future when looking back at your college experience and realizing how much it made you grow as a person.

Work hard and be kind to people and good things will happen to you. But also, dont work too hard cuz you have to have some fun every now and then of course.

This is important! You need to think hard about what you want to do with your life and where that is going to take you. Know what makes you happy and don't let anyone pursuade you to do something different from what you want. Don't be afraid to open up, everyone is in the same boat as you are. Be ready for a lot of work, and by work I mean reading. Make sure you approach every class with an open mind and don't be afraid to say what you think in class. You're professor's appreciate hearing your opinion. Don't let yourself get to stressed out. The classes are really hard but nothing is worth an emotional breakdown. DON'T PROCRASTINATE! It is never the right thing to do and will never have a good outcome. Bring warm clothes, and definitely a wind breaker! This is the windiest city you'll ever be in. Don't forget to have fun. College is supposed to be fun and it's suppose to be hard. Just make sure you know the balance of the two and everything will work out!

It's not about the money! Pick a career path that will utilize your gifts and talents, even if there is no potential to earn a lot of money. Think about all of the needs in this world and how you can make a difference so your life means something. So you want to get out of bed every morning instead of hitting snooze five times. Do not sell yourself out! Don't chase the golden calf because you will wake up one morning hating life, hating yourself, and looking down only to realize that you have golden handcuffs around your wrists. Stop listening to your parents, advisors, and family who with well intentions say, "That's a stable industry"....You are going to spend more waking hours at work than any other place in your life. What makes you happy? Find a way to earn a living doing it. And I stress a living, not living on country club drive with a membership. I mean if it means an apartment but your loving life...DO IT!

Ok man this is the beginning of the rest of your life. Over the summer you need to buckle down and prepare to live on your own. You should learn to do your own laundry and waking yourself up. While working this summer save your money because there will be time in college you need some spending money and if you forgot you will not be working. When you get to school be outgoing get to know all the people on your floor and in your classes. If you stay shut up in your room you will not have fun at college. Also get involved in student organizations and sports clubs or intramurals. This will be the best way to make new friends and meet people interested in what you like. Oh and number one thing to learn is get used to reading, a lot of reading. Take the summer to read the paper and other books get used to fitting reading into your schedule. Believe me this will help because in college there is a lot of reading. Last but not least you are no longer in high school so the easy way out won?t work here.

If I had to go back to my senior self and tell myself about all the transition that you face in college I would first tell myself to prepare for large quantities of reading. I would tell myself to be prepared for all of the hardwork you must endure in order to succeed that you have many different expectation and noone holds your hand. College Profesors don't care if you go to class or do the homework, or do well on your test, college is all about your individual self and how willing you are to succeed. That in order to do well you must work hard, and to learn, learn to the best of your ability and do not take what you have for granted. Finally I would tell myself cherish what you have the memories you leave behind and remember that you are on your own now and make it worth while, college isn't only about what grades you have but it's about defining yourself who you are, and who you want to be someday, college is about creating you, and making your dreams come true.

I have had a slightly different college experience than most, though I am not alone in the situation. I began my college career at a four year university and decided that it was not the right fit, so I then tranferred to my local community college. After completly my Associates degree, I transfered again to Ilinois State University. I think if I had to go back and tell myself one thing, it would be to decide on a school that I truly liked, and not to allow other people to effect that decision. Choosing a college is a huge decision, and letting others make that decision for you will not give you the result you want. I would also tell myself to enjoy the situations and places I am in and not to let them bother me or bring me down.

After coming to this college and learning what it is about, the one thing that I would go back and tell myself would be to be outgoing. When I first came to campus I stayed in my room a lot and played video games. I never really took in the true college experience here until my junior years. Since then I have met many new people and made many new friends. When I look back on it, the whole that I was here I could have been doing this. Illinois State is a great school that has a open student body. They are very friendly and a lot like me. Like I said, when I first came here I was hesitant but now that I have met these new people I have learned that their are people at this school that share the same interests as me. The other piece of advice that I would have given myself was to read. I never was good at reading and when I arrived at college, most classes assigned reading. I usually fell behind and had to catch up on them. Now I read them when assigned and I am doing awesome.

If I could give my high school senior self advice about college, the first thing I would say is to embrace the changes. As a college student one realizes that life is clearly not like it was in high school. While the freedom may be exhilarating, it is still necessary to be responsible. College is definitely about having fun, but more importantly, it is a stepping-stone into adult life and responsibilities. I would also say that college is a time to seize opportunities. Joining groups and participating in exciting events are great ways to meet people with similar characteristics and beliefs. Not to mention, these events are usually a great way to acquire free items given by the university! Keeping in contact with old friends and family is also important so that you do not feel too homesick in the beginning, but at the same time, it does not hurt to branch out instead of dwelling in the past. College is full of great opportunities and new friends with who you can make new memories. Finally, the most vital piece of advice I could offer is always be yourself and do not sell yourself short. Confidence is key!

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to be so nervous about going to school. The transition is way easier than you think it will be. You will have no trouble getting used to the college life. The classes are not as hard as you think they will be. As long as you go to class and pay attention, you will be fine. You will make a ton of friends and have a great time hanging out with them. You will meet a ton of new people and it will not be hard for you to make new friends like you thought it would be. So just calm down. Be smart about going to class and doing your work. You will be fine if you just be yourself. No one judges you here like they did in high school. You will love it here. So stop worrying so much and enjoy the time you have here.